I've been doing "experiential science", like identifying leaves, watchng how spring growth occurs, nature walks, etc., but I'd like some material to help me along. Up till now life has been really chaotic and unpredictable, so I relaxed our science learning. But know I feel the Lord is telling me that it's time to add it in. Kids love the experiments, it's a great time to learn, and our trips to the Planetarium have shown me how much they would love it. My oldest reads, and that's all she wants to do. I mean that's ALL she wants to do. She's ahead in every area except her physical handwriting skills. Anybody know what Neoe Science is like? Fun experiments? Good knowledge base when you're done? I'm thinking supplementing our experiential science with some other material in all categories of science might be good.

We live by the N Atlantic shore, and it seems to be a geology dream--lots of types of rocks on the cliffs and beaches. I'd like some guided materials to help me pull together a learning field trip to the shore. Thought Noeo Science might suit us, but I'd like to hear from somebody who used it. I know everybody seems to uses elementary Apologia, and I'm sure it's fantastic, but I was wondering it Noeo's emphasis on reading books might suit us better.

I appreciate any feedback you have!

Deanna

Hey Deanna -

I have used both NOEO and Apologia. Here are my perceptions:

I am finishing NOEO Chem I (with my 9yo and 7yo) and Chem II (with 11yo). Chem II has been overall good for my 11yo - he has worked independently, and diligently, in covering the material. The notebook pages have been helpful for him. He's not a crazy experiment guy, so the amount was just right for him.

Chem I has been only so/so. It moves sooooooooo slowly. That actually has been good for me: when I get behind, I can just do 2 weeks in about 2 days. The real books have been enjoyable, but Chem I didn't have NEARLY enough experiments. And - I guess I was just spoiled by Sonlight - MOST of the experiments you have to provide the supplies for.

Was it a good year? Yes, mostly. Will I do NOEO again? Jury's out.

We did Apologia Botany, Flying Creatures, and Astronomy. Terrific! The reason I liked them was we could all do them together. Easy format. Great to really delve into a topic for a long time.

Why did I switch to NOEO if I liked Apologia so much?

1) My 15 yo dd was doing Chemistry, thought we'd try to match subjects. Didn't make much difference.
2) My 11 yo needed a little "more" science - NOEO was pretty good in that regard.

HTH - without knowing how old your dd is, it's hard to say. Lots of folks wiser than me have said that before high school, just let them explore science topics and journal and experiment to their heart's content. . . . .

I've used Noeo science both BiologyI and II and Physics I and II -- yes it does go slowly- but I love the pace and my 9yos wishes for more exp but I like the amount - I do buy the kits with everything in them (if I don't have all the supplies its less likely we do experiments) My older daughter keeps a notebook etc. but with my little boys we just read and do experiments. I like using real books over textbooks when they are younger. So Noeo is just right for us.